Digital Infrastructure

Technology is all around us. But what physical and digital structures actually make up this infrastructure? Furthermore, what sort of implications does the management and control of digital infrastructure have on society and the economy at large?

To get the best value and use from blockchain technology, think separately and selectively about the elements you implement. According to Hanna Halaburda from the Bank of Canada, the true value of the technology isn't found in the totality of blockchain, but lies in choosing the parts — security, automated contracts, distributed ledgers — that make the most sense for your business needs.

Before your company decides how to leverage blockchain technology, you need to do your homework. Well — actually — the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH) has already done it for you. LISH advises businesses to consider what their real problem is first.

How do you evaluate blockchain business models? Start by understanding the technology’s limitations. Founders of the MIT Cryptoeconomics Lab, Catherine Tucker and Christian Catalini, dig into the last-mile problem that blockchain applications tend to find themselves up against.

Hype and overuse go hand-in-hand. Professor James Mickens from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering outlines the all-too-common disconnect between the properties of blockchain and the business applications it is being asked to address. He challenges companies to resist the urge to put everything on the blockchain.

Technology is fueling urban development across emerging markets in significant ways. But there's no formula to follow. Professor John Macomber takes us inside the unique challenges and opportunities facing cities — old and new — and the environment-specific solutions required to effectively leverage tech.

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur in a developing country? According to Professor Tarun Khanna, it's all about partnerships. Partnerships are essential for entrepreneurs working here in Boston, and even more so in places like Bangalore and Bogota where institutions to support new ventures are often missing or underdeveloped.

India is undergoing a “digital revolution." But not everyone is along for the ride. Research from Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and IDEO.org explores how human-centered design can move the needle on digital products and services reaching overlooked populations.

While satellites may be some of our most impressive technology, they are bogged down by a single bottleneck — data. Satellites orbiting Earth routinely struggle to relay data back down to Earth in a timely manner, with sizable implications for the real world, on the ground economy. This is why companies like Analytical Space are hoping to tap into the big data space revolution that is just waiting to happen.

Space missions today are an increasing mix of public and private ventures. But what happens when the worst happens and something goes wrong? Who pays for the costly damage? Take a look inside a surprisingly important piece of the space sector puzzle — insurance.

There’s no question that the space industry is undergoing drastic change, but how do you create the proper incentives for success with so many interdependent business models within the space sector? Professor Matt Weinzierl offers his advice using the classic game theory model the “stag hunt.”